Device for sucking liquid, air and solid particles



Dec. 15, 1964 s. G. ERIKSSON 3,161,135

DEVICE FOR SUCKING LIQUID, AIR AND SOLID PARTICLES Filed June 28, 1962 i 4 X V United States Patent 3,161,135 DEV 163E FUR SUCKINQ- LHQUED, Alli AND SULll) PARTHtILEd Sven Gustaf Erilrsson, 15 Sveavagen, Diursholm, Sweden Filed June 28, E62, Ser. No. 206,670 Qlaims priority, application Sweden June 29, 1961 2 Claims. (Cl. 103-25) This invention relates to a device for sucking liquids, air and solid particles which is particularly adapted for use in connection with surgical operations and dentist work for removing blood, saliva, bone splinters, metal particles, bore dust and air by sucking.

In previously knowndevices used for this purpose, the pump proper was constructed only for the suction of air, so that it was necessary to arrange before the pump a collecting vessel for liquids and, possibly, solid particles. In the event of too large a liquid supply exceeding the volume of the said vessel, the pump was liable to damage. As two disadvantages thereof may be mentioned: Firstly, the collecting vessel had to be emptied at short intervals and, secondly, the suction of larger liquid amounts for flushing the entire suction system had to be avoided. There was, moreover, in many cases no possibility for cleaning the air blown out.

It is the object of this invention to eliminate the aforesaid disadvantages, which is achieved by employing a rotary pump comprising a nozzle in connection with a water main for spraying water through the pump outlet against the rotor of the pump. A preferable pump for "this purpose comprises a rotor of elastic material with radial flanges arranged concentrically in a cylindrical pump housing which is provided with an insert for effecting inward deflection of the flanges, the said insert dis posed in the rotary direction of the pump after the outlet but before the inlet.

Pumps of the aforesaid type can, however, only operate when liquid is supplied. When operated dry, the in crease in friction will result in a rapid wear of the rotor disks. Lubrication of the rotor requires, therefore, the supply of liquid. When sucking blood and the like, it is, furthermore, of particular importance that the rotor is maintained clean. This invention renders possible a continuous and eifective lubrication and cleaning of both the pump rotor and the pump housing. Due to the water supplied, the suction effect of the pump will be increased still more.

In View of the fact that the rotor of the pump is made of elastic material andthus of rugged construction, and further that the pump is continuously lubricated and cleaned, it is no longer necessary to arrange the vessel in front of the pump which otherwise must be provided for collecting the material sucked. For the device according to the invention it makes, therefore, no difference that even solid particles of bone or metal or the like are sucked through the pump. By forcing the air sucked in to pass a vigorously turbulent liquid, the air is cleaned from dust prior to its blowing out. The material sucked may then be blown out directly into an outlet line, for exing part of the-turn are subjected to a strong inward deflection by being pressed against an insert 4 in the pump housing, the said insert disposed in the rotary direction of the rotor after the outlet line 5 of the pump but before its inlet line 6. The inletline 6 of the pump is adapted for connection, for example, to one or several suction nozzles which may be arranged at a long distance from the pump. In the embodiment shown, the outlet line 5 is connected with a branch line 7 including an upper vertical tube branch 8 and a lower tube branch 9.

In the embodiment shown, liquid is supplied on the outlet side of the pump through a nozzle 1% in the lower tube branch the said nozzle connected to a water main l1 and comprising a tube closed at one end and provided with one or a plurality of small holes 12 directed such, that fine water jets are sprayed in through the outlet line 5 of the pump against the rotor 2, when the Water pressure 15 on.

In order to make sure that there is always liquid supply to the pump, in the embodiment shown a pressure switch 13 is placed between the nozzle ill and the water main 11, in such a manner, that the said switch starts the motor 'of the pump only when there is adequate water pressure I filter may also be disposed before or both after and before the switch.

The invention is not restricted to the abovedescribed embodiment, but the details of the suction arrangement may be varied within the scope of the following, claims. For example, pumps of a type different of the type described above may be employed. It is further possible to use a pump comprising a rotor of elastic material withradial flanges which is arranged eccentrically in a cylindrical pump housing. Nor is the application range of the pump limited to what is disclosed above, but the pump may, of course, be adapted for use even in other cases where it is necessary to suck simultaneously liquid, air and solid particles.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a liquid and air pump having a generally cylindrical housing provided with an inlet and an outlet and having a cam at one side thereof between said inlet and outlet, a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis coaxial with said cylindrical housing, said inlet and said outlet being centered on a common line at right gagement with said housing, and bending against said cam and toward said outlet by rotor rotation, a clean water source, a nozzle connected to said water source and di rected towards said rotor through said outlet for continuously spraying clean water through said outlet inwards against'said rotor during operation.

2. In combination in a liquid and air pump, a generally cylindrical housing having an inlet and an outlet, a cam located at one side of said housing betweensaid inlet and outlet,- a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis coaxial with said cylindrical housing, said inlet and said outlet being centered on a common line at right angles to said axis and located toward said side of said housing, said rotor having radially extending flexible and resilient vanes extending into engagement with said housing and 3 4 bending against said cam in operation, a source of clear References Cited in the file of this patent water under pressure, a nozzle connected with said water UNITED STATES PATENTS source and directed into the outlet of said housing, and

a pressure switch located between said Water source and 52382 3 Schmidt 3 said nozzle and adapted to start the motor of the pump 5 Ungar 2 1 1 3 when the pressure at the nozzle reaches a definite value. 1 ,443 Rand 195 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LIQUID AND AIR PUMP HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL HOUSING PROVIDED WITH AN INLET AND AN OUTLET AND HAVING A CAM AT ONE SIDE THEREOF BETWEEN SAID INLET AND OUTLET, A ROTOR MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS COAXIAL WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING, SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET BEING CENTERED ON A COMMON LINE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID AXIS AND ADJACENT SAID SIDE OF SAID HOUSING AT WHICH SAID CAM IS LOCATED, SAID ROTOR HAVING RADIALLY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT VANES EXTENDING INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOUSING, AND BENDING AGAINST SAID CAM AND TOWARD SAID OUTLET BY ROTOR ROTATION, A CLEAN WATER SOURCE, A NOZZLE CONNECTED TO SAID WATER SOURCE AND DIRECTED TOWARDS SAID ROTOR THROUGH SAID OUTLET FOR CONTINUOUSLY SPRAYING CLEAN WATER THROUGH SAID OUTLET INWARDS AGAINST SAID ROTOR DURING OPERATION. 